Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikalrodan’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Fikalrodan’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching plant habit; glossy green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; large bright red-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIKALRODAN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fikalrodan’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-floweringKalanchoe plants with attractive leaf flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in De Lier, The Netherlands in 2006 of a proprietary selectionof Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 4836 (01), notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofKalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 7793 (04), notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoe plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, TheNetherlands since 2007 has shown that the unique features of this newKalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such astemperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fikalrodan’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fikalrodan’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoeplant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching plant habit.    -   4. Glossy green-colored leaves.    -   5. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   6. Large bright red-colored flowers.    -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower earlier than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have smaller flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have single-type flowers whereas        plants of the female parent selection have double-type flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower later than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger and more rounded        flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of Kalanchoeblossfeldiana ‘Paso’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,337. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Paso’ primarily in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more compact than plants of        ‘Paso’.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flowered later than plants of        ‘Paso’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Kalanchoe plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fikalrodan’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in 10-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands andunder cultural conditions which closely approximate commercial Kalanchoeproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 21° C.and light levels ranged from 10,000 lux to 55,000 lux. Plants receivedlong day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for aboutfour weeks then plants received photoinductive short day/long nightconditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were 13weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In thedetailed description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Fikalrodan’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe            blossfeldiana identified as code number 4836 (01), not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe            blossfeldiana identified as code number 7793 (04), not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at            temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; greyish white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and uniformly            mounded plant habit; freely flowering habit with numerous            cymes positioned above the foliar plane; inverted triangle            with rounded crown; appropriate for 5-cm to 13-cm            containers; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height at flowering.—About 15 cm.        -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 15 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about six to            eight lateral branches develop per plant; pinching (removal            of the terminal apex) is not required but will enhance            lateral branch development.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 10 cm to 13 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm to 6 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 2 cm.        -   Aspect.—Erect.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 138A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical; mostly            flat; glossy.        -   Quantity per plant.—About seven to ten mature leaves and            about 13 to 20 generative leaves.        -   Length.—About 12 cm.        -   Width.—About 9 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            coriaceous; succulent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:            Close to N137A; venation, close to N137A. Developing and            fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to N137C;            venation, close to N137C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 8 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to N137C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Flowers arranged singly in            cymes that arise from leaf axils; uniform and freely            flowering habit with usually about 25 open flowers and about            25 flower buds per lateral branch and more than 150 open            flowers and flower buds per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe            initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night            conditions or during November and December in The            Netherlands; flower initiation and development can also be            induced under artificial short day/long night conditions (at            least 14 hours of darkness).        -   Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive            conditions, plants begin flowering in about nine to ten            weeks; actual time to flower is primarily dependent upon            temperature and light intensity; plants flower continuously            for at least seven weeks.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance            for about 49 days under interior environmental conditions;            individual flowers last about 19 days on the plant; flowers            persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 1.6 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid with            development. Color: Close to between 38C and 39C.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: About four in a single whorl. Length:            About 8 mm. Width: About 6 mm. Aspect: Upright to somewhat            flat. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to more            intense than 44A; color does not fade with development. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 43C to            43D.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four in a single whorl. Length: About            9 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed. Apex:            Acute. Base: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm.            Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong, rigid. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 138B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight            per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther length:            About 0.3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Amount of pollen:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Gynoecium: Pistil            number: About four per flower. Pistil length: About 1 mm.            Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 138D. Stigma            shape: Flat. Stigma color: Close to 8D. Ovary color: Close            to 138D.        -   Seeds.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color:            Close to 166C.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been    observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to    Kalanchoes.

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikalrodan’ as illustratedand described.